Starc achieved a career milestone, reaching 402 wickets in Test cricket.
Third Test, Kingston (day three of five)
Australia 225 (Smith 48; S Joseph 4-33) & 121 (Green 42; A Joseph 5-27)
West Indies 143 (Campbell 36; Boland 3-34) & 27 (Greaves 11; Starc 6-9)
Australia win by 176 runs and complete 3-0 series victory
Australia secured a comprehensive 176-run victory over the West Indies in Jamaica, completing a 3-0 series sweep, after dismissing the hosts for a mere 27 runs – the second-lowest total in Test history, and the lowest since 1955.
The West Indies’ performance on the third day of the day-night Test in Jamaica was only marginally better than New Zealand’s 26 against England in 1955. Their previous lowest was 47 against England in 2004.
Mitchell Starc, the Australian pace spearhead, marked his 100th Test with a remarkable 6-9, including a spell of five wickets in just 15 deliveries.
This feat represents the fastest five-wicket haul in Test cricket and propelled Starc beyond the 400-wicket milestone in the format.
Adding to the Windies’ woes, Scott Boland contributed with a hat-trick, solidifying the tourists’ dominant series victory.
“It’s heartbreaking to be in a position where we think we can win the game and then come out and have that poor batting display,” lamented West Indies captain Roston Chase, whose team needed 204 for victory after dismissing Australia for 121 in their second innings.
“It’s something that has been recurring for the whole series – that makes it even more disappointing.”
Australia resumed day three of the day-night Test on 99-6 but only added 22 runs as Alzarri Joseph took 5-27 for the hosts.
The Windies reply started with left-armer Starc, 35, dismissing John Campbell with the first delivery before he trapped Kevlon Anderson leg-before and bowled Brandon King with his fifth and sixth balls respectively as all three went without scoring.
Starc took out Mikyle Louis, who had scored four, and Shai Hope (2) in his third over to leave the hosts on 7-5 after 4.3 overs.
Josh Hazlewood removed Roston Chase for a duck to reduce the West Indies to 11-6 before Boland’s hat-trick.
The right-armer dismissed Justin Greaves, who top-scored with 11 of the 27, Shamar Joseph and Jomel Warrican in the 13th over.
A misfield allowed West Indies a run with the score on 26 before Starc bowled Jayden Seales to end the hosts’ innings and give him his 402nd Test wicket, while also reaffirming his status as the best exponent of pace bowling with the pink ball in Test cricket.
The teams will now engage in a five-match T20 series, commencing on 21 July in Jamaica (01:00 BST).
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